Zoot Suit and Real Women Have Curves Among 2019 Inductees
By Justina Bonilla
Since 1988, the National Library of Congress’ National Film Registry has chosen 25 films a year to preserve for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. This list in the past has inducted iconic and groundbreaking films from To Kill a Mockingbird to The Godfather and Disney’s Snow White. The 2019 film inductions are more diverse than ever, with ten films directed and/or featuring ethnic talent, including five Latino/Hispanic talent.
Inducted this year, are two highly regarded films in Latino American and Chicano cinema, Zoot Suit and Real Women Have Curves. Zoot Suit is the second film written and directed by the Father of Chicano theater Luis Valdez. Real Women Have Curves is a modern classic by Chicana playwright Josefina Lopez, who created the story and co-wrote the screenplay. Both Real Women Have Curves and Zoot Suit began as plays, showing the significant influence of plays in Latino American film history.
Latino/Hispanic talent was also featured in other inducted films, namely Purple Rain (leading actress Apollonia Kotero), Boys Don’t Cry (actress Hillary Swank), and Platoon (actor Charlie Sheen).
Past inductees featuring significant Latino/Hispanic stories and/or talent include:
| West Side Story | Rita Moreno, Jose de Vega |
| The Revenge of Pancho Villa | Edmundo Padillo (Dir) |
| Dracula (Spanish Version) | Lupita Tovar |
| Ben Hur (Silent Version) | Ramon Novarro (Lead) |
| Stand & Deliver | Edward James Olmos |
| El Mariachi | Robert Rodriguez (Dir) |
| Chulas Fronteras | Doc Mexican Border Music |
| High Noon | Katy Jurado (Lead) |
| Night of the Living Dead | George Romero (Dir) |
| Gilda | Rita Hayworth |
| Salt of the Earth | Rosaura Revueltas, Juan Chacon |
| El Norte | Gregory Nava (Dir.) |
| La Bamba | Luis Valdez (Dir) |
In 2018, the National Film Registry faced criticism, due to its lack of diversity in its list of 750 films. According to TIME Magazine Only 36 films were directed by people of color. Now, the National Film Registry is adding more films with ethnic talent behind and in front of the camera. Solidifying the importance and impact of ethnic talent and stories in American cinema. Contributions that have been overlooked for years, due to preferences for non-ethnic stories and limited and/or stereotypical ethnic roles.
Latino oriented films and significant films with Latino talent that should be evaluated for consideration by the National Film Registry for induction include:
| Alambrista | Domingo Ambriz, Trinidad Silva |
| American Me | Edward J. Olmos (Dir. & Actor), Sal Lopez |
| Blood In Blood Out | Benjamin Bratt, Jessie Borrego, Enrique Castillo |
| Born In East L.A. | Cheech Marin (Writer, Director, Actor) |
| Crossover Dreams | Leon Ichaso (Dir.), Ruben Blades |
| Desperado | Robert Rodriguez (Dir), Antonio Banderas |
| Kiss of the Spider Woman | Hector Babenco (Dir.), Raul Julia |
| Mi Familia | Gregory Nava (Dir.), Jimmy Smits, JLO |
| Requiem for a Heavyweight | Anthony Quinn |
| Selena | Gregory Nava (Dir.), Jennifer Lopez |
| The Book of Life | Jorge Gutierrez (Dir.), Zoe Saldana |
| The Bronze Screen | Nancy de Los Santos (Dir. +2) |
| The Girl From Mexico | Lupe Velez |
| The Three Caballeros | Aurora Miranda, Carmen Molina |
Significant Films featuring Latino talent:
| The Goucho | Lupe Velez |
| Ocean’s 11 (’60) | Cesar Ramiro, Henry Silva, Sammy Davis Jr. |
| Star Trek II: Wrath of Kahn | Ricardo Montalban |
| Anna Lucasta | Sammy Davis Jr. |
| The Fugitive | Dolores del Rio, Pedro Armendariz |
